Tackle Box – 1v1 Attacking focus

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Tackle Box – 1v1 Attacking focus

Use a rectangular space 10m x 15m and split each baseline into two zones using cones.

Objective is to carry the ball over the far line from where you start. If the attacker can carry over the line through the right hand side cones, they score 5 points. If they carry the ball over the line through the left hand cones, they score just 1 point.

The exercise is two directional, so if the defender wins the ball (transition from defence to attack), they are instantly the attacker and the attacker becomes the defender (transition from attack to defence).

Key Coaching Points

Try to move the defender away from the space you want to attack by running hard to space.
When the defender is reaching, change direction and accelerate hard.
Carry as much as possible facing the defender (face the pressure).
Use stick feints and move the ball slow then fast to try to unbalance the defender and to get them to commit their stick.
Carry the ball as far away from your own feet as possible with your left elbow away from your body and a split grip on the stick to give you space to manipulate the ball away from your feet and to help with vision. If the ball is close to your feet, you will look down more and won’t see space or the defender.

Progression to Challenge Groups

Make the right side goal smaller.
Only allow them to score through the goal with a 3-D carry.
Ban 3-D skills to push the development of 2-D skills.
Give points for winning fouls and taking a pass within a second of the whistle.

Simplification for lower ability groups

Make the pitch and/or the goals much wider so it’s easier to score.
Only allow forehand tackling